Paraphrasing - accepable and unacceptable

One method of writing about other people's work, without plagiarism is to paraphrase. This means putting that person's work in one's own words as well as adding a citation and full reference.

The following ORIGINAL text has been taken from the book The Google Story.

“Not since Gutenberg invented the modern printing press more than 500 years ago, making books and scientific tomes affordable and widely available to the masses, has any new invention empowered individuals, and transformed access to information, as profoundly as Google.”

From: Vise, David A. (2005) The Google Story. Macmillan: London

Unacceptable paraphrasing of above text - plagiarism

The most important invention that has affected access to information since Gutenberg invented the modern printing press and made books affordable and widely available, is Google, an invention that has empowered individuals and transformed access to information around the world.

This passage is considered plagiarism because

The writer does not cite the author as the source of the ideas

The passage is too close to the original text

Only a few phrases or words have been changed

Acceptable paraphrasing of above text - not plagiarism

It has been stated that Google has revolutionised the information world by providing access to information through the internet. Vise notes that Google is the most radical information development since Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. (Vise, 2005 p.1)

This is acceptable paraphrasing because

The author of the text has been cited correctly

The writer has used their own words

The writer gives credit for the ideas in the passage

Paraphrasing - mini quiz

Try our one question quiz to test you understand what paraphrasing is.